Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Review -- Sunrise with a Notorious Lord

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord
Lords of Vice—Book 4
By Alexandra Hawkins
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Release Date: January 3, 2012





Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright—known around London as “Vane”—is the very picture of a rich, handsome ladies’ man. Why shackle himself to just one lady when he’s free to sample them all? In spite of his own mother’s attempts at matchmaking, Vane has sworn to stay single. Until he has a chance run-in with Miss Isabel Thorne...

A modest and refined beauty, Isabel is a lot more brazen than she appears. When a pickpocket tries to make away with Vane’s bejeweled snuffbox, Isabel attempts to thwart his escape...and manages to steal Vane’s heart. But the harder he tries to seduce the sharp-tongued, strong-willed Isabel, the more she resists. Now it’s up to this tried-and-true bachelor to find a new way to play the game...or risk losing the one woman who’s ever captured his heart.


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Despite his mother’s many matchmaking attempts, Christopher Courtland, Earl of Vanewright, has remained blissfully unscathed thus far. Luckily for her, he adores her immensely. Unluckily for him, his close friends enjoy teasing him about it.

“You are being ridiculous.”

It annoyed Vane that his friend was not taking him seriously. “Am I? Last month, my mother told Lady Sankey that she would happily pay any willing miss a King’s ransom if she was clever enough to trick me into marriage.”

“And who told you this?”

“Lady Sankey, when I discovered her disrobing in my bedchamber.” His hand tightened on Sin’s shoulder, when the marquess surrendered all sense of decorum and started laughing. “God’s teeth, Sin! Lady Sankey cannot be a day under sixty! Can you not fathom what my mother has done? Although she denies it, my mother has placed a veritable bounty on my head. If this gets out, every female from the lowest scullery maid to your grandmother will be dreaming of ways to compromise me into marriage.”

Sin sobered, and urged Van to continue walking since they were drawing attention. “Fortunately for you, my grandmother has long since departed this world. However, you might want to avoid my sister this season.”


Vane is the “reluctant heir” and I really felt for him in his relationship with his father. Vane has tried so hard to be the son his father wants, but has never been able to live up to the legacy his brother left. I believe that made him appreciate his mother that much more. Who can resist a man who loves his mother?

Isabel and her sister, Delia, have to come to London at the confidential invitation of the Marchioness of Netherley. The marchioness is hoping to make a match for her son, the Earl of Vanewright, with Delia. What Isabel doesn’t count on is falling for the earl herself.

Sunrise with a Notorious Lord is the fourth book in Alexandra Hawkins’s Lords of Vice series featuring seven sinfully delicious men of the ton. This book isn’t my favorite of the ones published thus far—there were a couple times when I wanted to strangle Isabel, though I did appreciate the lengths she went to for her sister—but it is a great addition to the series. I really love the way Ms. Hawkins depicts the camaraderie between the male friends. They are like a typical group of guys who never let an opportunity to rib one another pass by, but are also completely loyal to the end. There is never a dull moment when the Lords of Vice get together! Even though Sunrise with a Notorious Lord is part of a series, it stands completely on its own, as do the others in the series. I recommend them all!


~Andrea


So, I mentioned that the Lords of Vice are a great group of guys who tease each other, but will defend each other to the end. What other series can you recommend that center around a group of guys that behave in this manner?

Alexandra Hawkins has graciously offered to send three lucky commenters (living within the United States or Canada, due to mailing restrictions) one copy each of Sunrise with a Notorious Lord!



Also, here is the beautiful trailer for Sunrise with a Notorious Lord which releases TODAY!!






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32 comments:

  1. I have read many books like that but one series comes to mind is the Blackdagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward. The guys are always teasing and giving each other a hard time but they would die for each other! Love those brothers! I can't wait to get Alexandra's new book!!!! Thanks for sharing with us today!

    evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

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  2. Happy Release Day to Alexandra. I'm a fan of this series. One series that comes to mind with a great group of guys is Stephanie Laurens' Bastion Club books.

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  3. Stephanie Laurens' Cynster and Bastion Club series' come to mind. Alpha males to the max, but with soft centers and devoted to family. My favorite frendship/slamship is between Devil Cynster and the Earl of Chillingworth.

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  4. I too would say Stephanie Lauren's Bastion Club members and The Cynster family. Excellent examples.And Monica McCarty's Highland Guard series. Thanks for the review. This is on my wish list :)
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  5. I agree with the other members, Stephanie Lauren's Cynsters and Bastion Club are like that. J.R.Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood as well.

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  6. Beverly Kendall's books have an awesome group of friends, and so does Vicky Dreiling. I also love the wolves and vampires in Lydia Dare's books. Congratulations on the new release.
    srbagby 50 at gmail dot com

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  7. can't join this giveaway ;(

    but it's okay, i got good review of book from this seriew, will go buy then

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  8. I think that everybody loves Stephanie Laurens Bastion and Cynster Club boys.

    However, a new set that I've come to love as well are Eileen Dreyers "Drakes Rakes". They're really endearing themselves to me. I just love all these groups of men that are recruited to protect and defend their country and their friends to the end.

    "Sunrise with a Notorious Lord" appeals me in that it appears to contain everything that I love in a book, i.e. passion, intrigue, danger and romance. I think that the cover art and colors are spectacular.

    Thanks for this opportunity.

    dpd333 (at) aol dot com

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  9. Great review Andrea! :)

    The comraderie and ribbing you describe reminds me of Nick McCall and Jack Pallas in Julie James' A Lot Like Love. The two of them will trash talk each other to death, but at the end of the day, they respect each other, have each other's backs and get the job done. Not to mention the Ivy League version of trash talk between Huxley and Wilkins, hee.

    Nora has numerous trilogies with this dynamic-Sign of 7, Key, Chesapeake Bay, etc. The guys will call each other names, let the insults fly, but will be there for one another at the drop of a hat, no questions asked.

    While it may not make much sense to us women, I've given to understand that's how guys show their love and affection, lol.

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  10. Congrats on your release. Loved the trailer. Looks like a great book.

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  11. I can think of Amelia Grey's, "The Rogue Dynasty" and, of course, Stephanie Laurens' Bastion Club and Cynster Group.

    I love the excerpt from "Sunrise with a Notorious Lord" and have added it to my Wish List. Thanks for sharing!

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  12. I was going to say the Bastion club, but it's already Ben mentioned a lot. Also the Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn had wonderful relationships between the brothers. The Lisa Kleypas Hathaway series has some fun moments with the brothers and brothers-in-law as well has some characters from previous books.

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  13. Andrea, thanks for the great review! I love books that feature groups of guys, maybe because I have no brothers. I'd like to think that if I did, they'd bond the way these guys in books do.

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  14. Oops--forgot to answer the question. One example of guy bonding is Cindy Gerard's Back Ops Inc. contemporary RS series. In historical, Sabrina Jeffries Sharpe brothers, in her current series, would fit, as do the guys in Patricia Rice's current Second Sons books, The Wicked Wycherly and The Devilish Montague, the first two.

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  15. Beverley Kendall has written the Elusive Lord series about a trio of male friends, while Nora Roberts' Bride series also had strong male frienships. Both writers did a very good job.

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  16. Sorry I'm late, all! I had a busy day at work trying to catch up from the holidays.

    @Joanna R Jochum -- I haven't read JR Ward's books, but several people have told me I need to. Maybe someday!

    @Jane -- Glad to hear your a fan and I hop you enjoy this one!

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  17. @Flora -- I used to read SL's Cynster books and also LOVE the friendship/slamship (love that term!) between Devil and Chillingworth!

    @Carol L. -- Monica McCarty writes some awesome alpha heroes, doesn't she?!

    @Dianna -- You're in good company! ;-)

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  18. @Shelley B -- I have enjoyed Vicky's books...good choice!

    @Eli -- Thanks! If you buy them, I hope you like them!

    @Diane D -- I think the cover is gorgeous! Of course, I'm partial toward purple. ;-)

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  19. @Lisa -- I had a feeling you'd mention Nora! I need to check those series out. ;-)

    @Rebekah E. -- I hope you enjoy it!

    @Connie -- I'll have to check out Amelia's books. Thanks for bringing them to my attention!

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  20. @Christy -- JQ and LK are great choices!

    @Nancy -- Thank you! I am writing these down... *g*

    @Penfield -- I read Nora's series (and I totally agree with you!), but haven't read Bev's yet. Thanks for letting me know!

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  21. Great review, sounds like a really good read. Will check it out.

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  22. Boy, this group of guys sounds like something I would enjoy fabulously!! :-)

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  23. I would say Jennifer Ashley's Mackenzie brothers are a group that will defend each other no matter what.

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  24. I feel embarrassed to admit that I haven't read Stephanie Laurens' Bastion Club, but the comparisons have made me curious. I really need to check this series out!

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  25. Andrea and Buffie--I'm thrilled to kick off 2012 and my new release at The Romance Dish! Thanks for the great review. :)

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  26. @Virginia -- I hope you enjoy it!

    @Buffie -- I think you would really enjoy the Lords of Vice. ;-)

    @Maureen -- Great choice! I love those Mackenzies. *g*

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  27. Thanks for stopping by, Alexandra! I hope this book (and its beautiful cover) flies off the shelves!

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  28. I have one of this series and am planning on reading them all.
    Both Stephanie Lauren and Catherine Coulter have series that connect friends or family this way. These are only two of many authors who have series built that way. Tessa Dare has her Stud Club trilogy.

    Best of luck with the release of SUNRISE WITH A NOTORIOUS LORD.

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  29. Andrea--Me, too! :)

    Librarypat--When I discovered romance novels, Coulter's historicals were early reads. I haven't read Tessa Dare's Stud Club trilogy. Is this a new series?

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  30. I would say the men of Lauren Dane's Brown Siblings books are that way. They give each other grief but they always have each others backs.

    Thanks so much for the lovely giveaway!

    geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  31. Jillian Hunter, The Boscastles, they are brothers but are always up to something loved this series even better they have a sister who is just as bad as the boys!!

    brandon_savannah@yahoo.com

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  32. Well, all the good choices have already been mentioned! I do think that Julia Quinn's Bridgerton's stick up for one another in a similar way.

    As for undying male friendships in other book genres, the late mystery writer Robert B. Parker wrote my favorite one--between Spenser and Hawk.

    Congrats, Alexandra on the new release. Thanks for the giveaway.

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